40. The Finance Commission is a constitutional body. What is its primary function under Article 280?
[SSC Selection Post 2026 (Graduate Level), 18 September 2026, Shift 1]
(A) To approve the annual Union Budget
(B) To allocate money for Five-Year Plans
(C) To recommend distribution of taxes between the Centre and the States
(D) To monitor GST collections
Answer: (C) To recommend distribution of taxes between the Centre and the States
Explanation: Article 280 establishes the Finance Commission, which recommends sharing divisible Union tax revenues with the States and allocating State shares. It also advises on grants-in-aid. It does not approve budgets, manage planning allocations or supervise GST revenue collection.
39. Which river was at the centre of the inter-State water dispute for which the Supreme Court directed the Union to constitute a tribunal in February 2026?
[RRB Group D 2025 Official Paper, held 9 August 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Krishna River
(B) Pennaiyar River
(C) Godavari River
(D) Cauvery River
Answer: (B) Pennaiyar River
Explanation: The Pennaiyar, also called the South Pennar, flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Their disagreement concerns water diversion and sharing. The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 provides a framework for adjudication through a specially constituted tribunal.
38. Articles 245 to 255 of Part XI of the Constitution primarily deal with which aspect of Centre–State relations?
[RRB NTPC (Undergraduate) CBT-I, 9 May 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Administrative relations
(B) Financial relations
(C) Legislative relations
(D) Judicial relations
Answer: (C) Legislative relations
Explanation: Chapter I of Part XI, Articles 245–255, governs legislative relations, including territorial reach, distribution of subjects and special situations permitting parliamentary legislation on State matters. Chapter II of Part XI deals separately with administrative relations under Articles 256–263.
37. The last subject mentioned in the Concurrent List of the Indian Constitution is numbered what?
[SSC MTS 2025 Official Paper, held 6 February 2026, Shift 2]
(A) 34
(B) 42
(C) 47
(D) 41
Answer: (C) 47
Explanation: The final numbered entry in List III of the Seventh Schedule is Entry 47, concerning fees in respect of matters in that list. Amendments have inserted additional entries without necessarily renumbering the original sequence, so the final entry number remains 47.
36. Consider the Inter-State Council, National Security Council and Zonal Councils. How many were established under provisions of the Constitution?
[UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I]
(A) Only one
(B) Only two
(C) All three
(D) None
Answer: (A) Only one
Explanation: The Inter-State Council derives from Article 263 and was established by presidential order. The Zonal Councils are statutory bodies created under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. The National Security Council was established by executive decision, making only one constitutionally provided body.
35. Which body was instrumental in recommending changes to Centre–State relations in India?
[SSC CPO 2025, 11 December 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Ashok Mehta Committee
(B) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
(C) Sarkaria Commission
(D) Punchhi Commission
Answer: (C) Sarkaria Commission
Explanation: The Sarkaria Commission was constituted in 1983 under Justice R. S. Sarkaria to review legislative, administrative and financial relations between the Union and States. Its recommendations included strengthening consultation and establishing a permanent Inter-State Council under Article 263.
34. Under which of the following circumstances can Parliament legislate on a subject in the State List?
[SSC Selection Post 2025 (Higher Secondary Level), 30 July 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Whenever the President issues an ordinance
(B) During a Financial Emergency alone
(C) When the Rajya Sabha passes the specified resolution
(D) Whenever the Lok Sabha is dissolved
Answer: (C) When the Rajya Sabha passes the specified resolution
Explanation: Article 249 permits Parliament to legislate on State List subjects in the national interest after the Rajya Sabha adopts a resolution by at least two-thirds of members present and voting. The authority is exceptional and depends on the resolution remaining effective.
33. Which Article gives the Supreme Court original jurisdiction over qualifying Centre–State and inter-State disputes?
[SSC GD Constable 2025, 19 February 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Article 131
(B) Article 130
(C) Article 135
(D) Article 134
Answer: (A) Article 131
Explanation: Article 131 confers original jurisdiction on the Supreme Court for certain legal disputes between the Union and States or among States. The controversy must involve a legal right. Special constitutional exclusions and separate statutory dispute mechanisms may apply.
32. Which statement correctly identifies a Union List subject under the Constitution?
[UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, General Studies Paper I]
(A) Inter-State trade and commerce belongs to the State List
(B) Inter-State migration belongs to the State List
(C) Inter-State quarantine belongs to the Union List
(D) Corporation tax belongs to the State List
Answer: (C) Inter-State quarantine belongs to the Union List
Explanation: Inter-State quarantine is listed in Entry 81 of the Union List. Inter-State migration, inter-State trade and commerce, and corporation tax are also Union subjects. The Seventh Schedule allocates matters requiring nationwide regulation to Parliament rather than individual legislatures.
31. Under the North Eastern Council Act as amended in 2002, which of these are included in the Council:
1. State Governors;
2. State Chief Ministers;
3. Three President-nominated members;
4. Union Home Minister?
[UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, General Studies Paper I]
(A) 1, 2 and 3 only
(B) 1, 3 and 4 only
(C) 2 and 4 only
(D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (A) 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation: Section 3 of the amended North Eastern Council Act specifies Governors, Chief Ministers and three President-nominated members. The Union Home Minister became ex-officio chairperson later, but is not separately named as a member in the 2002 statutory membership provision.